The Church (John 15; Gal.6; Col.3) 20230122 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
01/22 Gospel Unity and The Three Bears (John 15; Galatians 6; Colossians 3)) Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20230122_the-church.mp3
What is the church? The church is created by Jesus, people called out by Jesus to follow him, redeemed by his death and resurrection. The church is built by Jesus on his own identity as its one cornerstone, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, who point us to Jesus. The church is a New Covenant community birthed by the Spirit, united by the Father into one diverse body, devoted to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
We saw in Matthew 5:14-16 that the church is called to be the light of the world; to point the world to the light that is our Lord Jesus Christ. The ‘you’ and ‘your’ are plural; y’all let your light shine so that they see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. There is a group identity; we, together, are called to be the light of the world.
Gospel Unity and the Three Bears
Today I want to look at gospel unity and at the three bears. This may sound like a fairy tale, but I assure you, it is not. This is real life for follower of Jesus, and with his help, it is possible. My desire is that this will stick in our hearts and minds, and we will pursue gospel unity and the three bears in all of life, especially in the life of our church family.
Remember, the prerequisite to seeing these three bears is belonging to Jesus, being born again, being a part of the body of Christ. Jesus said ‘you must be born from above, born again, born of the Spirit of God.’ Jesus must be lifted up on a cross, so ‘that whoever believes in him may have eternal life’ (Jn.3:15) ‘Whoever believes in me,’ Jesus said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’ (Jn.7:38). This is the gospel, the good news that unites us into one body, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he rose again on the third day, (1Cor.15:1-5) and he is alive and at work in us today. Our unity is not superficial unity like a common interest or preference; our unity is a profound gospel unity. The three bears are tied to our gospel unity, our new identity in Christ.
Bear #1; Bear Fruit
In Luke 8, Jesus talked about a sower who scattered the word of God on four different kinds of people. Some seed fell along the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil. Some seed was trampled underfoot and snatched away by birds, some sprang up but withered because it had no root, some grew up but was choked out by weeds,
Luke 8:15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
When the word of God takes root in a person’s heart, it bears much fruit. Some 30, some 60, some 100 times what was sown. This is the first ‘bear’. Bear fruit.
Bad Root - Bad Fruit
In Matthew 7 Jesus warns of those who are false. False teachers, false prophets, false believers. He says:
Matthew 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
The kind of tree determines what kind of fruit it will bear. We as followers of Jesus are meant to bear good fruit. John the Baptizer admonished the religious leaders who were coming to him; ‘bear fruit in keeping with repentance’ (Mt.3:8). Live a life consistent with turning from your sins and turning to Jesus. What is inside will come out and you will be seen for what you really are in time.
Abiding in Jesus
Jesus gives us the secret of bearing fruit in John 15. Jesus said:
John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Jesus tells us that we must be rooted in him, connected to him, abiding in him if we are to bear any real fruit. He is the source of life, and our life and fruit bearing are completely dependent on remaining connected to him. By his word we have been cleansed of our sins, and it is our connection with him that keeps us from withering and being fruitless. Don’t be surprised, by the way, at the Father’s pruning. Fruit-bearing branches are pruned, and the pruning process no doubt is painful, but it is for the purpose of increasing fruitfulness.
Jesus emphasizes the fact that we are utterly unable to bear any fruit outside of our connection with him. He repeats that and makes it abundantly clear. ‘The branch cannot bear fruit of itself. Apart from me you can do nothing.’ We do plenty apart from Jesus, but it is all rotten fruit, and that will be seen in time.
Abide Through His Word and Prayer
Jesus continues:
John 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
One way we abide in Jesus is through his word and prayer. We stay connected to him when we hide his word in our hearts; we get to know him, what he desires, we enjoy relationship with him, we allow his word to shape our hearts, and we ask him to do those things that would bring him the most glory.
This is about demonstrating the root stock. We prove to be Jesus’ followers when we feed on his word and ask God to work in us and through us for his glory. Fruit is evidence of if we truly are his followers.
Abide in His Love by Loving Others
John 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
You are loved. Loved by Jesus. Abide in Jesus, abide in his word, abide in his love. We abide in his love when we do what he wants us to do. When we desire to please him. This is the path to fullness of joy, Jesus’ joy abiding in us. Remember, joy in Galatians 5 is fruit of the Spirit.
Abiding in his love looks like keeping his commandments. What commandments? The next verse leaves us without any doubt.
John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
This is my command; love one another. I have loved you, I have shown you what love looks like. You are loved, so love one another. Love, according to Galatians, is fruit that the Spirit produces. If we abide in Jesus, in his word, asking him to fill us with his love for others, we will bear fruit, lasting fruit, fruit that brings glory to God.
In our loving gospel unity, we will bear much fruit that glorifies the Father.
Bear # 2; Bear One Another’s Burdens
The end of Galatians 5 contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
In Galatians 6 he goes on:
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
There is a sense in which we each bear our own burdens; as he says in Romans 14, we are each accountable to the Lord Christ; it is before our own Master that we stand or fall. We will give an account for every careless word we speak (Mt.12:36). Each one’s work will be tested by fire (1Cor.3:12-16). That is a burden we each alone must bear.
But there is also a sense in which we are called to bear one another’s burdens. That is bear #2. The context here is restoration to one caught in any trangression. Don’t think of yourself as superior or beyond temptation. Don’t provoke or envy one another. Don’t come at your brother in a spirit of condemnation; there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom.8:1). Your brother is caught, overtaken. He needs help. He can’t do it alone. He needs spiritual help given in a spirit of gentleness. We are called to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ, the law of love; love your neighbor as yourself (Gal.5:14).
Romans 15 puts it this way:
Romans 15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
Bear one another’s burdens, bear with the failings of the weak, build him up, for his good. Christ bore our burdens on the cross. Bear one another’s burdens.
Bear # 3; Bear With One Another
Colossians 3 tells us
Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
This is bear # 3, the last and maybe most difficult bear of all; bear with one another.
Based on our identity in Christ, God’s chosen, holy, beloved, bear with one another. You are going to need compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience for this. Bear with one another. It is one thing to bear one another’s burdens; it is another thing to bear with one another. To put up with each other. If you have a complaint against another, you should complain, right? Find somebody to tell. That’s not what this says. Graciously forgive each other. You don’t have to bear with one another if everything is fine. This means there will be complaints, there will be blame, there will be faults. Bear with one another. If you have a complaint against another, you carry it. You release them from the debt. Graciously forgive. The standard is high. Graciously forgive as the Lord has forgiven you, you must forgive. Bear with one another.
Ephesians 4 puts this in the context of our gospel unity.
Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. ... 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
We are to pursue unity, gospel unity. The unity of the Spirit in this one body, the church. We are to pursue the unity of the faith as we all get to know Jesus better. Not just head knowledge but experientially. We get to know Jesus better as we enter in to his experience, as we walk like Jesus walked, in humility and gentleness with patience, as we bear with one another, as we forgive one another as Jesus has forgiven us.
Gospel unity bears fruit, fruit that abides.
Gospel unity bears one another’s burdens.
Gospel unity bears with one another in love.
May we walk in gospel unity and bear much fruit to the glory of God.
***
2023.01.22 Sermon Notes
Gospel Unity and the Three Bears
(John 15; Galatians 6; Colossians 3)
Unity in the church is founded on the gospel; that whoever believes in Jesus is forgiven, has eternal life, is born again by the Holy Spirit
John 3:3, 14-15; 7:38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5
Bear # 1: Bear fruit
Luke 8:15; Matthew 3:8; 7:16-20
The secret to fruit-bearing; abide in Jesus
John 15:1-17
We abide through his word and prayer
John 15:7-8
We abide in his love by loving others
John 15:9-17
Bear # 2: Bear One Another’s Burdens
Galatians 5:22 – 6:5; Romans 15:1-3
Bear # 3; Bear with one another
Colossians 3:12-13; Ephesians 4:1-13
***
Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org